The Summer Writing Challenge

Welcome! I'm delighted you've decided to join us and keep your writing flowing with a summer of words, ideas and stories - one step at a time!

Over the next four weeks we'll explore three simple but powerful writing strategies. I've used them for many years with both GCSE students and adult writers. And each one will only take 10-15 minutes to complete.

Whether you're preparing for your English GCSE studies, returning to writing after a break, or simply enjoy being creative, I hope you'll find something here to inspire you.

Each week, there will be an activity that will focus on one practical technique:

Week 1 – Word Banks

Build your vocabulary and collect useful ideas even before you begin your story.

You can do this anytime, anywhere - even when travelling. And modern technology is a great tool to use.

Go to Week 1

Week 2 – Plot Boxes

Discover a simple way to get your ideas down and plan a story from beginning to end.

This allows you to write your story with confidence and avoid grinding to a halt halfway through.

Go to Week 2

Week 3 – Character Sketches

Interesting characters are all around us.

Being observant is one key skill every writer needs; bringing those observations together is another.

Character sketches are a simple way to create realistic, believable characters that will keep your readers reading.

Go to Week 3

Week 4 – The 99-Word Story Challenge

In week 4, you'll have the opportunity to bring everything together by writing a complete story in just 99 words.

This is a challenge, but not an impossible one. We ran a competition in my spring writing class to do just that - a story in 99 words.

If you want to see how the students did, then please take a look here.

Go to Week 4

Week 5 - What’s Next to Keep Your Writing Flowing?

So, the Summer Writing Challenge has ended. Looking back at what you've learned, how do you feel about being a writer?

Hopefully, you’ve seen that:

Ideas don't have to arrive fully formed.
Planning doesn't have to be complicated.
Characters can help drive a story.
A first draft doesn't have to be perfect.
Writing becomes easier when you take it one step at a time.

Here are some ideas of what you could do next to keep on with your writing. I'd suggest choosing one of these at a time and seeing how you go.

•Keep writing Word Banks – choose a subject and spend five minutes collecting interesting words and phrases.

•Write another Plot Box – take an idea from one of your Word Banks and turn it into a simple three-part story plan.

•Write another 99-word story – use a different memory, place or idea and write about that.

•Start writing longer stories – use the same techniques to plan and develop a story of 250 or 500 words or more.

I’m developing a GCSE Writing Tool Box. It’s going to be packed with ideas and problem solvers to help GCSE students get the best mark they possibly can in the English Descriptive Writing part of the exam.

All the ideas and suggestions will help adult writers too. Look out for that in the near future.

Practical help to keep the words, ideas and stories flowing – one step at a time!

Thanks for joining in with the challenge - I wish you well in your future writing.

David

You can complete each activity in the Summer Writing Challenge in around 10–15 minutes, so there's no pressure. Work through them at your own pace and, above all, enjoy your writing.

Feel free to download my free GCSE Writing Guide. It introduces the same three practical strategies in more detail and explains how they can help build confidence and improve your writing.

The guide is especially designed for Year 9–11 students preparing for GCSE English, but it is useful for all. If you're a parent or a grandparent of a student, you may also like to take a look.

I'd love to see what you’ve created. You're welcome to share your work in the comments on my Facebook page or email it directly to me: david@davidwritingtutor.com

Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy the challenge – and here's to a summer of words, ideas and stories - one step at a time!